It is reported that the airline has told these former cabin crew that retraining would take a week and courses start from 22 February.

Unite, the union that represents about 13,000 BA cabin crew, is balloting members on possible industrial action in a dispute over changes to working practice and pay cuts. If staff vote in favour, BA could face strikes next month and over Easter.

A BA spokesman confirmed former staff were being offered the chance to return in the event of industrial action, adding: “Many of the cabin crew who worked for us during 2009 on temporary contracts have made contact with us since Unite announced its second ballot. We’re pleased to be able to offer a number of them short-term contracts to help us keep our customers flying as much as we possibly can should a strike go ahead.”